Student Affairs & Inclusive Excellence (SAIE) is the central student affairs division of the University of Denver.
SAIE supports students in their holistic development through advocacy, collaboration, and education, and we strive to be full partners in students’ learning experience. SAIE values student centricity; diversity, equity, and inclusion; collaboration; adaptability; and accountability. The Division’s strategic priorities are:
- Enrich the holistic student experience
- Elevate & Embed diversity, equity & inclusion
- Engage purposeful partnerships
- Enhance staff development, learning & wellbeing
- Enact sustainable practices & operations
SAIE includes Housing and Residential Education, Health and Counseling Center, Student Engagement and the 4D Experience, the Dean of Students Office, and Budget, Operations, and Divisional Resources.
Departments within the above areas include Student Engagement and 4D Experience; Fraternity and Sorority Life; Social Justice Education; Health and Counseling Services; AccessibleDU Student Disability Services; The Cultural Center; First@DU; Learning Effectiveness Program; Veterans and Military Resources; Student Outreach and Support; Student Rights & Responsibilities; New Student and Family Programs; Driscoll and Community Commons; and more.
Position Summary
The Assistant Director for New Student Experience is responsible for supporting the design and implementation of new student programs and family engagement experiences and for undergraduate and graduate students at the University of Denver. This position focuses on engagement strategies rooted in departmental goals, outcomes, and assessment that support student retention and persistence.
The Assistant Director of New Student Experience partners with SAIE Division Leadership Team, Office of Student Engagement, Housing and Residential Education, Academic Success & Resources, Institutional Research, Office of Teaching & Learning, Office of Admission, Conference and Events, Facilities, and Sodexo Dining Services to strategically plan, implement, and assess programming and engagement outreach for all incoming students, and creates additional programming and outreach for returning students to reconnect with the campus community.
The Assistant Director will:
- Support new students in as aspects of their student’s DU experience.
- Oversee and manage events, programs, and services for new students.
- Manage the logistics of the orientation and transition experience.
- Support department operations and management.
- Supervise department student staff.
- Demonstrate an ongoing commitment to the values of inclusion, equity, and diversity.
- Co-create, implement, and provide results of a comprehensive assessment plan.
- Build and maintain positive relationships with new DU students.
- Respond to department communication needs in a timely manner.
- Effectively interact with University staff, faculty, and administration.
- Oversee management of new student data.
Additionally, the Assistant Director supports the planning and execution of engaging programs which cultivate a vibrant/active 4-Dimensional Student Experience (promoting character development, intellectual growth, the pursuit of careers & lives of purpose, and well-being), through collaboration with the 4D Experience Team and embedding the 4D experience into programs, initiatives, and leadership development within New Student & Family Programs
The Assistant Director for New Student Experience reports to the Director of New Student & Family Programs.
Essential Functions
New Student Programs
- Development and execution of all new student programs including Discoveries Summer Experience, Discoveries Orientation, First Ascent and First Year Programs
- Establish and implement new student experience goals and outcomes including assessment strategies.
- Design and support a comprehensive new student experience for all populations including international, transfer, graduate, and pre-orientation populations with respective campus partners and departments.
- Gather and maintain demographic data of incoming students.
- Collaborate with the director to analyze assessment results.
- Collaborate with the Office of Teaching & Learning and Institutional Research to develop online courses and assessment tools.
- Manage logistics of all aspects of our Discoveries program including cross-campus collaboration and coordination.
- Provide leadership and facilitation of First Ascent experience at our Kennedy Mountain Campus as support staff.
- Manage email and social media communication to new student in consultation with the director and other University staff.
- Create an engaging social media content calendar, design original posts, and respond to comments on social media platforms with guidance from the director.
- Update and maintain website content specific to functional areas within the department.
Supervision & Leadership Development
- Supervise, train, and develop 100+ student staff including our Office Assistants, Student Coordinators, and 4D Peer Mentors.
- Oversee development and instruction of peer leadership course, Introduction to 4D Mentorship.
- Assign tasks, set priorities, and ensure all responsibilities are completed promptly and accurately.
- Conduct regular performance evaluations and provide constructive feedback to enhance individual and team performance.
- Foster a positive and collaborative work environment, promoting teamwork and employee engagement.
Ensure accurate and timely entry of timecards for all student employees. - Collaborate with HR or payroll departments to maintain employee records and ensure compliance with company policies and procedures.
- Review and verify timecards for accuracy, resolve discrepancies, and address any issues related to employee attendance or hours worked.
- Generate reports on employee attendance, hours worked, and other relevant data as required.
Office Management
- Oversee daily operation of unit through customer service management and supervision of office assistants
- Support the day-to-day operations of the call center, ensuring smooth call flow, and efficient resolution of customer inquiries or issues.
- Collaborate with other departments to identify areas for improvement, implement training programs, and enhance customer service standards.
- Handle escalated complaints or complex issues, demonstrating strong problem-solving skills and maintaining a professional demeanor.
- Administer the departments purchase card, including issuing card, setting spending limits, and maintaining accurate records.
- Monitor and reconcile purchase card transactions, ensuring accurate coding and appropriate documentation.
Family Engagement
- Support the execution of our DU Family Experience and associated family engagement as needed.
- Align new student experience with a complimentary family experience to aid in the effective transition and orientation for both audiences.
Other Duties as Assigned
- Serve on University, division, area, and department committees.
- Assist director with strategic planning, visioning, and assessment for the department.
- Collaborate with and support the entire New Student & Family Programs team as needed to enhance and support the mission, vision, and goals of the department.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Excellent communication, customer service, and interpersonal skills with the ability to present effectively to a variety of audiences, including faculty, administrators, students, and student affairs staff.
- Strong organizational, planning, and program development abilities including attention to detail.
- Ability to collaborate with departments across the university, ability to problem-solve and work with parents and families in crisis.
- Ability to work effectively with students and families.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree
- Demonstrate a commitment to the principles of inclusion, diversity, and equity through involvement and participation in university/division-wide projects and initiatives.
- Experience with large event planning and execution in higher education
- Experience working with college students
Preferred Qualifications
- Master’s degree related to higher education
- Experience with programming with college students with preference to related fields of orientation, transition, retention and parent and family engagement
- Experience in goal setting and execution of planning
- Leadership in higher education
- Experience with website and social media administration
- Experience with conflict resolution
- Experience advising or supervising student staff
- Experience with crisis management and diplomatic communication with families
- Experience with strategic visioning, planning, and assessment
- Experience with strategizing and problem solving in a complex organization
- Experience with the life cycle of print publishing
- Experience with website editing, HTML and CMS
- Experience with digital marketing
Working Environment
1. Standard office environment.
2. Unexpected interruptions occur often and stress level is moderate to high.
3. Noise level is quiet to moderate.
Physical Activities
1. Ability to sit in front of a computer for an extended period of time.
2. Occasionally required to move about the office/campus with the capability of transporting objects up to 20 lbs.
Work Schedule
This position requires employees to work onsite 8:00am-4:30pm with some weekends, evenings, and holidays. Some remote and flexible work arrangements. (Schedules vary by department and position.)
Attend and support up to 5 overnight Kennedy Mountain Campus programs such as First Ascent, 4 Dimensional Experience, or Student Leadership retreats throughout the year.
Application Deadline
For best consideration, please submit your application materials by 4:00 p.m. (MST) August 22, 2023.
Special Instructions
Candidates must apply online through jobs.du.edu to be considered. Only applications submitted online will be accepted.
Salary Grade Number:
The salary grade for the position is 8.
Salary Range:
The salary range for this position is $55,000-$58,000
The University of Denver has provided a compensation range that represents its good faith estimate of what the University may pay for the position at the time of posting. The University may ultimately pay more or less than the posted compensation range. The salary offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information, but not based on a candidate’s sex or any other protected status.
Benefits:
The University of Denver offers excellent benefits, including medical, dental, retirement, paid time off, tuition benefit and ECO pass. The University of Denver is a private institution that empowers students who want to make a difference. Learn more about the University of Denver .
Please include the following documents with your application:
1. Resume
2. Cover Letter
The University of Denver is an equal opportunity employer. The University of Denver prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, age (40 years and over in the employment context), religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, marital status, veterans status, and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination under federal, state, or local law, regulation, or ordinance in any of the university’s educational programs and activities, and in the employment (including application for employment) and admissions (including application for admission) context, as required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended in 2008; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967; and any other federal, state, and local laws, regulations, or ordinances that prohibit discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation. For the university’s complete Non-Discrimination Statement, please see non-discrimination-statement .
All offers of employment are contingent upon satisfactory completion of a criminal history background check.
Advertised: August 08, 2023
Applications close: